Three months after the four-lane balanced cantilever bridge connecting to Mumbai-Ahmedabad national highway near Thane’s Ghodbunder junction was opened for traffic, it has developed potholes following continuous rain spells the past few days. On Saturday, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) began filling the potholes on the bridge over Varsova creek.
Built at a cost of Rs 247 crore, the 918m-long cantilever bridge provides traffic relief to the Mumbai-Surat corridor. It was opened on March 27, but since the past few days, motorists have been complaining of potholes and heavy waterlogging leading to traffic snarls on the bridge. “The last few days on the highway have been a nightmare. It is shocking to see so many potholes on the bridge,” said a motorist who regularly travels to Vasai.
TimesView
Just three months after the Varsova bridge on Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway was inaugurated potholes have surfaced raising questions on the quality of construction, design and the supervisory role of government officials. NH-8 is a busy stretch with heavy vehicles plying. Contractors should be held accountable and the exact cause of the potholes — traffic, rainwater or a shoddy job — needs to be investigated.
After motorists posted photographs of the potholed bridge on social media platforms, Palghar MLA Rajendra Gavit convened a meeting of NHAI and demanded criminal action against the road contractors.
NHAI officials said the potholes had appeared due to continuous rainfall the past few days resulting in traffic snarls. On Saturday, as the rains took a break, pothole-filling work was undertaken. But motorists fear they will resurface.
The old Gujarat-bound bridge was rehabilitated in May 2017, but had to be frequently shut for repairs. Heavy vehicles were also banned on it. The new bridge was a relief for motorists driving from Mumbai as they could skip Ghodbunder junction, which sees massive traffic snarls.
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